The Adoration of the Shepherds

Art Historical Context

In the intimate glow of *The Adoration of the Shepherd*, painted around 1535–40 by Girolamo da Carpialso known as Girolamo Sellari visitors encounter a tender moment from the Nativity story. This small oil-on-wood panel (12 3/8 × 16 1/8 in.) depicts the Virgin Mary, infant Jesus, and Saint Joseph receiving humble shepherds, accompanied by cows and a donkey in a rustic stable. Da Carpi, a Ferrarese Mannerist active in northern Italy, draws from the legacy of Correggio and Parmigianino, blending graceful figures with soft, luminous modeling to evoke quiet reverence. Crafted during the High Renaissance's shift toward Mannerism, the work reflects the era's emphasis on emotional intimacy in religious art, ideal for private devotion amid Italy's fervent Catholic culture. The compact format and rich oil glazes highlight da Carpi's skill in capturing ethereal light and textured details—like the animals' warm hides—making the divine accessible and human. A 2017 gift to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, this piece honors curator Keith Christiansen and showcases the artist's underrated contributions to devotional painting. Step closer to feel the scene's warmth: it's a window into 16th-century faith, where shepherds' awe mirrors our own.